Amazon extends 1-Click patent to gifts
Amazon has extended its controversial patent on "1-Click" shopping to include items bought as gifts for others.
The original 1999 patent allowed customers to purchase products with just one click after entering their address and credit card details for upfront storage. but drew fire including a boycott when Amazon sued rival Barnes & Noble for using a similar method.
Google/DoubleClick deal to be investigated
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened an antitrust probe into Google's recent acquisition of DoubleClick, according to The New York Times.
A source told the NYT that a preliminary investigation has been launched into the deal, in which Google paid $3.1bn for the ad company.
Third of employees 'risk sack for blogging'
A human resources firm has warned that up to a third of bloggers and social network users risk the sack for posting damaging material about their employer.
Croner commissioned YouGov for a survey of 2,000 people which found 39% of bloggers admitted to publishing sensitive or damaging posts about their workplace.
Google data capture under EU scrutiny
Google is facing concerns from EU officials over the length of time it stores users' search habits.
A working party of data protection officials from members states last week sent a letter to the search giant demanding justification for its policy of keeping hold of users' identity and search patterns for up to two years.
Hotels.com sued over disabled access
Travel e-tailer Hotels.com is being sued by a group of disabled Californian dancers because it could not guarantee reservations for customers with wheelchairs.
Bonnie Lewkowicz and Judith Smith of of the AXIS non-profit dance company filed a complaint in Alameda County Superior Court seeking an injunction that would force the internet store to account for disabled shoppers.
Yahoo! sued over ad technology
A group of Yahoo! investors has launched a class action lawsuit against the portal, claiming it concealed falling user numbers attributed to deficient advertising systems.
Yahoo!'s stock market value fell sharply late last year after concern about the effectiveness of its search marketing platform and CEO Terry Semel's leadership of the many-headed company.
Complaints against web ads surge
Official complaints about internet ads rose by a third in 2006, according to new figures from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The agency reported 2,066 complaints - up from 1,577 and even more than direct mail attracted - according to the ASA's annual report.
Spot inspections coming to a database near you?
The Information Commissioner may soon have the power to make spot checks of company databases, he told parliament yesterday.
The new capability would be used to ensure companies and other organisations are complying with responsibilities under the Data Protection Act.
Google to fight Viacom's copyright lawsuit
Google plans to fight the $1bn lawsuit brought against it by Viacom over the alleged use of copyrighted content on YouTube.
The lawsuit, filed by Viacom in March this year, accused YouTube/Google of 'massive intentional copyright infringement' due to the number of Viacom's clips which had been uploaded to the video site.
Democrat aims to revoke US gambling ban
A bill has been introduced in the US Congress which aims to legalise online betting run by licensed operators.
Democrat Barney Frank yesterday introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act 2007, though he will face quite a struggle to get the bill through Congress.
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Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
